Courts / Roscommon / Report
Teen rape trial jury concerned they were photographed by man 'associated with defence', appeal hears
Summary
A man has launched an appeal against his conviction for rape and sexual assault following a trial in the Central Criminal Court. Stephen Lynch, with an address in County Offaly, was convicted in May 2021 of raping a fifteen-year-old girl at a property in Athlone, County Roscommon, in October 2015, and of sexually assaulting another young woman and assaulting her friend in December 2015. Lynch pleaded not guilty to all charges. At the Court of Appeal, his legal representatives argued the jury should have been discharged due to concerns they were photographed during the trial and following a reference by a witness to previous stories about the accused. The State's counsel submitted these issues were resolved at trial and were not sufficiently prejudicial to warrant discharge. The appeal court reserved judgment. Lynch was sentenced to eight years and nine months for the rape offence and concurrent sentences totalling two years and nine months for the other convictions.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Teen rape trial jury concerned they were photographed by man 'associated with defence', appeal hears. Charges or matters: all charges. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- May 2021 Incident
- October 17 Incident
- July 2021 Incident
- December 18 Incident
- October 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2015 Other
- 2023-06-16 Publication
Why: Sergeant Paul McNally told Ms O'Leary that in October 2015, Lena Maughan (23) attended at the then address of the accused man in order to see her sister's new-born baby. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: all charges (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; He sentenced Lynch to eight years and nine months imprisonment for the rape offence, having reduced a sentence of nine years to account for the three months the accused man spent in custody previously. Justice Keane also sentenced Lynch to two years and nine months for both the offence of sexual assault and the offence of assault causing harm, with all sentences to run concurrent to each other.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- The Central Criminal court
Topics
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